A Day That Will be Remembered
About 3 years ago, on November 19, 2015 my Aunt Carol passed away. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a crisp fall November morning, a couple days before Thanksgiving. It was still dark outside when I came downstairs to see my mom in tears and my dad comforting her. We were at home when my mom received the call and at that time my aunt was in Maryland where she lived. This was a very sad moment in time for my whole family. Especially my mom because it was her first aunt which made her my second. This was a day that will be remembered by many through my moms side of the family. This was a day of shedding tears of remembrance, sadness. But also in a way, happiness, because it was for the best for everyone and the tense pain that was in the air had dissolved.
My aunt was a delicate and delightful to be around. When we would visit all our family in the summertime we would have the best time. All the cousins were together cherishing memories on end. When the parents all would go out to dinner my aunt would be the one to stay with all the kids. She loved it! She taught us many card games and always had the best prizes for us. Her favorite store had to be dollar tree. A few months before we would come in the summer, she would send my sister and I little presents from the dollar tree. It also held notes as a little reminder telling us she can’t wait to see us along with the countdown of how many days till she gets to see us.
These memories are never to be forgotten. My mom and grandma have so many pictures and videos capturing the memories. It is good to look back and see how we have grown and how the family has grown. Our family loves the beach. If we are going on vacation that is our spot! When we would go to Maryland we would drive sixteen hours. And that started when I was very little. We went to the beach everyday and spend hours and hours crashing through the bright blue waves and getting knocked right off of our feet. My aunt loved the beach she always came with us, she would come down by the water with my mom and watch us get beat by each wave that came rolling in.
We would spend Christmas’ with her and my moms mom and dad at our old lake house here in Illinois. We have many videos of opening presents together and dancing around the Christmas tree. I was about four at the time so my sister was two. We would be non stop giggling and falling to the floor with laughter and excitement. This shows how memories impact the future because the people you love tend to stay in your life longer than they really are.
My Aunt Carol has made an enormous impact on my life and I can’t ever thank her enough for the happiness she brought to the family. All the kids now know how to play poker and the many games she made. Although this was an awfully sad time in our lives, it made me made me realize that it was for the best and it was hurting her more than it did us when she passed.
The impact that it made on me was that, even the best people in life have to go even if doesn’t feel like you should lose them yet. This is important to remember because although it is upsetting, we need to think of the other side and how the person is living. Whether it is each day in pain and or knowing when the day is coming. These stories that I mentioned were stories that I will never forget. My moms mom (my aunts sister), does many similar things that my aunt used to do. That is an important thing to me because it keeps the memories going and the continuous reminder of her here.
My aunt Carol made a huge happy impact on my life and I can’t wait to pass on the traditions that she did with me. Her impact will always be remembered because I know it is for the best for everyone. Everyone goes, it is how you react and how your future can get better from the impact the person made on your life.